Netflix Picks Up Marco Polo Adventure Series

Netflix is relentless, and in their continuing powerful partnership with the Weinstein Comany, their next offering of original programming may be their grandest, most impressive fare to date.

Coming late 2014 to subscribers of the streaming service will be a tale of global discovery and intrigue, as the series will follow the adventures and exploits of famed explorer Marco Polo.

For now, and at least in its initial iteration, stories will focus on 13th century China, where war has broken out, and Polo is in the middle of “astonishing martial arts, sexual intrigue, political skullduggery and spectacular battles,” according to the press release.

Produced by the Weinstein Company, the series will be directed by Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg, the Norwegian directing duo behind ‘Max Manus: Man of War,’ the Oscar-nominated ‘Kon-Tiki,’ and the announced fifth installment of the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchise. Also on board is executive producer and director Dan Minahan of ‘Game of Thrones’ and’ True Blood’ note.

Slated for nine episodes, the series begins shooting soon in Malaysia, will sport a global cast, and stress Netflix’s appeal for a worldwide audience.

The project was initially developed for Starz, however the network eventually passed on the project; Starz will be premiering their own historical adventure drama next week with ‘Black Sails.’

The Marco Polo project joins Season 2 of ‘House of Cards,’ Season 3 of ‘Lilyhammer,’ and the first season of the Wachowski siblings’ ‘Sense8’ as Netflix original programming to be released this year.